Self-winding watch mechanism



y 21, 1953 G. DuBOls 2,645,895

SELF-WINDING WATCH MECHANISM Filed Sept. 16, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1r 27 Fig.2 5 32 7 29 302; 1/

INVENTOQ GEOQGES DU BOIS y 1, 1953 G. DUBOIS 2,645,895

SELF-WINDING WATCH MECHANISM Filed Sept. 16, 1952 3 SheetsSheet 2 mvsN'roR Seamss b ses @71 F I s? y 1, 1953 G. DUBOIS 2,645,895

' I SELF-WINDING WATCH MECHANISM I Filed pt. 16', 1952 I s Sheets-Sheet 5 mvamoR Qemces Dwoxs Patented July 21, 1953 SELF-WINDING WATCH MECHANISM Georges Dubois, Grangcs, Switzerland, assignor to A. Schild S. A., Granges, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Application September 16, 1952, Serial No. 309,834 InSwitzerland October 24, 1951 7 Claims.

This invention relates to self-winding timepieces and more especially to self-winding watch mechanisms comprising at least a free-wheel mechanism.

Free-wheel devices of several types have already been used in different kinds of self-winding watch mechanisms. The broadest application of these free-wheel devices has been made in selfwinding mechanisms whereby the oscillations in both directions of a rockable weight were intended to be used for winding up the watch. Such an application is shown for instance in the Swiss Patent No. 272,613. Another important application of free-wheel devices has been made in watches with both a manual and a self-winding mechanism, such asshown in the Swiss Patent No. 223,994.

, The free-wheel devices used in these cases com prise two coaxial wheels. In the first mentioned type of application one of these wheels is constantly driven, in both directions, by the rockable weight and it drives the second wheel only in one direction, this second wheel being-opera tively connected to the barrel arbor. In the second type of application the free-wheel device is set in place of the crown-wheel. One of its two wheels is driven by the winding pinion whereas the other is driven by the rockable weight. The first of these two Wheels drives the ratchet wheel. When Winding up the watch manually, the so disposed free-wheel device disengages the self-winding mechanism leaving it at rest.

The most-employed free-wheel device comprises two coaxial wheels connected oneto the other for a one-way motion by means of a Breguet key, i. e. two contrate wheels with a ratchet clutch which is kept in gear by a spring, I

This type of free-wheel device-has the moon-- venience of causing great losses of energy by friction when the wheels rotate freely.

Another type of free-wheel mechanism is constituted by a wheel with a circular indentation, loosely mounted on an axle and a circular plate with notches at the periphery, the plate being disposed in the indentation and fixed to the, axle. These notches have a V-shape one side of which is substantially disposed in a radial direction, whereas the other side is substantially disposed in the direction of the tangent. A ball is placed in each of these notches. By clamping these balls ensure in the well known manner carrying along of the'wheel with the axle when this latter rotates in one direction and leaving the wheel at rest when the axle rotates in the other direction. But this type of free-wheel has both drawbacks that clamping of the balls and carrying along of the wheel do not occur very quickly and cause undesirable lostmotions, and that the balls once clamped need a regrettable expense of energy for releasing them.

There are still other free-wheel .mechanisms known in the art; in one of them a first wheel carries a ratchet wheel and a second wheel carries a pawl urged against the teeth of the ratchet wheel by a spring. But this device has about the same drawbacks as those of the device with a Breguet key.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide in a self-winding watch mechanism a free-wheel device which avoids the drawbacks axle capable of rocking said wedging means into wedging contact with said inner wall.

In the preferred free-wheel mechanism the Wedging member is a double-armed lever formed with a cylindrical hub seated in a part cylindrical notch of the plate, and the plate adjoins the inner wall of said indentation in four contact sections, two of whichbeing situated in the vicinity ofsaid double armedlever, a third onebei-ng located diametrically opposite the two first ones and the fourth one being situated substantially at right angles to the three other contact sections.

It is another object of the invention to provide a self-winding watch mechanism with two of these free-wheel devices so that the oscillations in both directions of the weight member wind up the Watch. In this case a toothed wheel is fixed to the weight and this wheel meshes with two toothed wheels fixed on the axle of each freewheel mechanism, both wheels loosely mounted on the axle of the free-wheel mechanisms meshing with one another and one of these loosely mounted wheels being fixed on a pinion loosely mounted on the axle of the free-wheel 1nechanism, said pinion driving a train of wheels connected to the barrel arbor,

In the drawings affixed to this specification and forming! part thereof, several embodiments of this invention are illustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawings:

.Fig. 1 is a partial plan view of a clockwork in U which are shown only those elements which form part of the device according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section along the line II--II of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, which are drawn to a larger scale, illustrate four difierent forms of free-wheel devices according to the invention,

Figs. 3 and 4 being a plan view and a cross-section, respectively, of the first embodiment, while Fig. 5 is a plan view of the second, and

Figs. 6 and '7 are similar views of the third and fourth embodiments, respectively.

Referring to the drawings and first to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the rocking weight I is pivoted on an axle 2 preferably arranged near the center point of the clockwork. A pinion 3 fixed on the axle 2 is in mesh with two toothed wheels 4 and 5 which are fixed on spindles 6 and I, pivoted in thelower and upper bridges 8 and 9, respectively (Fig. 2) of the self-winding mechanism. Another toothed wheel If) is loosely mounted on the spindle 6 whereas a toothed wheel II is fixed on a pinion 2| loosely mounted on the spindle I. The two free wheels I B and I I are in mesh with each other and the pinion I2 carries along the middle wheel I3, the pinion I4 of which carries along the part I5 mounted on the barrel arbor.

The free-wheel ID loose on the axle 6 is formed with a circular indentation IS, the wall of which is smooth. A plate I8 having the form of a circular disc is arranged in the indentation I6, filling it out almost completely. Its inner diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the axle 6 and its outer diameter is slightly shorter than that of the indentation I6 of the wheel I0, its thickness being substantially equal to the axial depth of the indentation. Near the middle between the axle and the lateral wall of the indentation a circular notch I9 is formed in the plate I8 which is also notched at ZII substantially following the radius of the wheel. This notch is wider near the axle, with a section 2i embracing a nose 22 fixed on the axle.

A double-armed lever 23 of the same thickness as the disc is arranged in the interior of the notches I9 and 26. The lever is formed with a circular middle section 24 which fits in the circular notch I 9 of the plate. The lever 23 is thus articulated within this plate and can pivot around the center of section 24. tends substantially along a radius of the wheel III, while its outer arm 26 encloses an angle with this radius. The two arms of the lever are fixed to the circular middle section at substantially diametrical point and enclose between them an obtuse angle.

A cover 2? resting on a shoulder 28 of the wheel III holds the plate I8 and the lever 23 in position within the indentation IS.

The operation of this free wheel mechanism can be guessed clearly from Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. As long as the axle 6 turns counterclockwise, its nose 22 leans against the inner end of the arm 25 of the lever and causes the lever to pivot around its hub 24 in clockwise direction. In consequence of this, the outer end 26 of the lever leans against the side wall I! of the indentation l6 and the friction created between the end of the lever and this wall causes the wheel I U to be carried along by the axle 6.

On the other hand, if the axle turns in the opposite sense, i. e. in clockwise direction, the nose 22 will contact the wall of the notch 2I and will carry along the plate I8 :which in its turn carries along the lever 23. If the outer end 26 Its inner arm 25 exof the lever is still in contact with the wall II of the indentation, the lever will simply swing around its hub in counter-clockwise direction and will thereby disengage the free wheel ID from the axle 6.

The wheel I I (Fig. l) is formed with an indentation 29 identical with the indentation of the wheel I 0. In its indentation are mounted a plate 30 and a lever 3| similar to the plate I8 and the lever 23. Here the axle 'I carries a nose 32 capable of adjusting the lever 3I and a cover 2'! holds the elements 38 and 3i in their position inside the indentation 29. The only difference existing between the two free-wheel mechanisms mounted on the axles 6 and 1 consists in that the plate and lever provided within the indentation of the wheel II) are so arranged that this wheel I0 is carried along by the axle when it turns in counter-clockwise direction, while the plate and lever provided within the indentation of the wheel II are so disposed that this latter is carried along by the axle I when this axle turns in clockwise direction.

While the weight I efiects a rotatory movement in clockwise direction, the pinion 3 carries alone the wheels 4 and 5 and with them their axles 5 and I in counter-clockwise direction. Of the two free wheel only the wheel I6 is carried along by the axle 6, while the wheel II is disengaged. However, this wheel II is carried along by the wheel I5 in the clockwise direction in which it is free to turn. The wheel I I in its turn carries along by means of the pinion I2 the intermediate wheel I3 in counter-clockwise direction.

If on the other hand, the weight I effects a rotatory movement in counter-clockwise direction, the pinion 3 will carry along the wheels 4 and 5 and with them also the axles 6 and I in clockwise direction. In that case only the axle I will carry along the free wheel II which is pivoted on it, while the wheel I0 is disengaged from the axle 6. The wheel I I in its turn carries along the wheels I0 and I3 in counter-clockwise direction. In this case the wheel l0 turns freely because it is carried along in a rotation inversely to that of its axle 6.

Obviously, the intermediate wheel I3 and with it also the barrel arbor which is carried along by the member I5, turn always in the same direction, no matter what may be the direction of rotation of the weight I.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 the plate I80. difiers only slightly from the plate I8 in the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, however, the lever 23 is replaced by a modified form, in which its inner arm 33 extends into a curved notch 34 of the axle 6, while its outer arm 35 is formed with an extension 36 joined to it at substantially a right angle and contacting the inner wall of the indentation with its foot 31. The plate section adjoining this foot is cut out correspondingly at 38 to allow the foot to move freely. In all other respects, this device and its operation resemble closely that of the device shown in Figs.

3 and 4.

A third embodiment shown in Fig. 6 resembles those shown in Figs. 3 and 5 in that it comprises a double-armed lever 39, 40, 4I held for rocking motion about the center point of its hub 4| in circular seats 42, 43 of the plate 44. This plate differs from the plates I8 and we of the two first embodiments in that its contour is not circular, but is capable of contacting the inner wall of the indentation I60. in four places only. Two of these places 45 and 46 are situated acid-8% on both sides and in the vicinityoftheouter arm 39 of the lever. A third contacting' -place 4'! of the plate 44 is located diametrically opposite the faces 45 and 46 and the lever 39, 49, 4!. A fourth contact section 48 is situated sub-' stantially at right angles to the three other contact sections.

The axle 6 is formed again with a curved notch 55 into which extends the inner'arm 40 of the lever 39, 49, 4!.

When the axle B revolves in counter-clockwise direction, the notch 49 causes the arm-40 of the lever to rock in clockwise direction and in consequence thereof the outer arm 39 to be applied tothe inner wall of the indentationlBa. The friction now arising between the outer arm 39 of the lever and the inner wall of the indentation causes the weight I to be coupled with the wheel 1 a..- The friction between the parts will increase in proportion as the angle enclosed between the outer arm 39 and the radius of the part Illa passing through the center of-the lever hub 4i diminishes. This angle should however be kept above a certain limit, for otherwise the arm 39 might rock in the other direction without raisgages the arm 39 from the inner wall of the indentation. The lever is free to rock up to the moment where one of its arms meets one of the faces adjoining them of the plate 44. At that moment rotation of the axle 6 will simply carry along the plate 44 and allow the wheel 10a to turn freely.

In this embodiment the friction between the contacting parts of the plate 44 and the inner wall or the indentation 16a is reduced to a minimum when the mechanism turns in the free wheel sense, without carrying along the wheel Hm.

Fig. 7 illustrates a fourth embodiment, in which the notched plates I8, 18a. and 44 of the three embodiments described above are replaced by a pair of coacting plates. Here again is the axle which is surrounded by two substantially half-,- moon-shaped discs or plates 5| and 52. These two plates fill most of the identation 16b and extend substantially concentrically to the inner wall 53 of this identation. The plates 5|, 52 are articulated one to the other at a point substantially in the middle between the axle 6 and the inner wall 53, the plate 5| being formed with an arm 54 whose cylindrical free end 55 fits into a part-cyclindrical notch 56 of the other plate 52. The two plates are further formed with diametrically opposite notches 51 and 58, respectively, each notch being formed with one wall 59, 60 extending along a radius of the axle and with another wall 6!, 62, respectively, inclined relative to the radial wall. Into these two notches extend two noses 63 and 64, respectively, fixed to the axle, the contour of these noses being formed substantially like that of the two notches. The noses are fixed to the axle in diametrical positions. The notches 51, 58 are so disposed that when the plates 5|, 52 are in place within the identation l6b of the wheel 1027, the diameter line of the wheel Hlb, defined by these two notches, is substantially at right angles to the radius of the wheel 'Hlb, defined by the head 55 of the arm 54 of the plate 5|.

When the axle 6 revolves in counter-clockwise direction, the rounded sections of the 'r'i'oss -t' and 64 being applied against-the inclined vfaces 6!,62' ofthe notches 51, 58 have a tendency to crowd the two plates'5l and -52 towards the outside and against the inner wall 53 of the identation I612, thereby creating friction between the two plates and this'wall and causing the wheel v[0b to be carried along. On the i other hand, if the. axle 6 revolves in-clockwise direc tion, the radially extending facesof the noses 63 and 64 apply themselves against the corresponding faces 59, 69 of their notches and, the two plates 5! and 52 then assume a tendency of approaching each other and in keeping out of contact with the inner wall of the indentation, leave. the wheel It?) free to turn by itself. I

In this embodiment the carrying along of the wheel IDb is mainly insuredby the gliding fric tion generated between the two plates 5i and52 and the inner wall of the indentation and any jamming such as may arise with the double armed lever of Figs. 3,5 and 6 cannot arise here.

Experience has however shown thatthe' carrying along of the wheel took place without any friction and that this mechanism -oifered-Jthe same advantages as those described before, quite particularly in all those-cases .where' the torque to be transmitted to a wheel does not exceed certain limits.

Since all the free-wheel mechanisms hereabove described provide for an instantaneous coupling and uncoupling of the free wheel, winding up of the watch will occur without any lost motion in any angular movements of the weight. Even the smallest oscillations of the weight will contribute to a winding of the watch.

and a free-wheel mechanism comprising an axle,

a wheel loose on the axle, a coaxial circular indentation in said wheel,-a plate in said indentation loosely embracing said axle and adjoining the inner wall of said indentation, a wedging member slightly longer than a radial line extending from the axle surface to said inner wall and hinged to said plate and means on said axle capable of rocking said wedging means into wedging contact with said inner wall, said freewheel mechanism being inserted between, and operatively connecting for power transmission, said weight and said barrel arbor.

2. The self -winding watch of claim 1, in which the wedging member is a double-armed lever formed With a cylindrical hub seated in a partcylindrical notch of the plate.

3. The self-winding watch of claim 1, in which the wedging member is a double-armed lever formed with a cylindrical hub seated in a partcylindrical notch of the plate and the plate adjoins the inner wall of said indentation in four contact sections, two of which being situated in the vicinity of said double-armed lever, a third one being located diametrically opposite the two first ones and the fourth one being situated substantially at right angles to the three other contact sections.

4. The self-winding watch of claim 1, in which the plate in the indentation is divided into a pair of relatively hinged segments one of which constitutes the wedging member.

5. Self-winding watch comprising in combination a barrel arbor, an eccentrically loaded weight arranged for oscillatory motion about an axis extending in parallel to said barrel arbor and a pair of free-wheel mechanisms arranged for oscillation in opposite directions about axes also parallel to said barrel arbor, means fixed to said weight for permanently coupling said mechanisms with each other for such oscillation, said mechanisms being inserted between, and operatively connecting for power transmission, said weight and said barrel arbor, each of said free-wheel mechanisms comprising an axle, a wheel loose on the axle, a coaxial circular indentation in said wheel, a plate in said indentation loosely embracing said axle and adjoining the inner wall of said indentation, a wedging member slightly longer than a radial line extending from the axle surface to said inner wall and hinged to said plate and means on said axle capable of rocking said wedging means into wedging contact with said inner wall.

6. Self-winding watch comprising in combination, a barrel arbor, an eccentrically loaded weight arranged for oscillatory motion about an axis extending in parallel to said barrel arbor,

a toothed wheel fixed to said weight, and a pair of free wheel mechanisms comprising each an axle, awheel loose on said axle, a coaxial circular indentation in said wheel, a plate in said indentation loosely embracing said axle and adjoining the inner wall of said indentation, a wedging member slightly longer than a radial line extending from the axle surface to said inner wall and hinged to said plate, means on said axle capable of rocking said wedging means into wedging contact with said inner wall and a toothed wheel fixed on said axle, the toothed wheel fixed on the axle of each free-wheel mechanism meshing; with the toothed wheel fixed to the weight, both wheels loosely mounted on the axle of the free-wheel mechanisms meshing with one another, one of these loosely mounted wheels being operatively connected to said barrel arbor.

'7. The self -winding watch of claim 5, in which the wheel being operatively connected to the barrel arbor is fixed on a pinion loosely mounted on the axle of the free-wheel mechanism, said pinion driving a train of wheels connected to said barrel arbor.

GEORGES DUBOIS.

No references cited. 

